McLeod announces program to protect women and girls

Ottawa – Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, announced last week funding for new projects through Status of Women Canada entitled Cyber and Sexual Violence: Helping Communities Respond.

“Violence against women and girls has devastating and far-reaching effects on the community,” said McLeod. “The projects supported by this call for proposals will reduce violence against women and reach out to those who have been affected by such violence.”

“Recent high-profile cases have made cyber-violence and sexual violence against women and girls top-of-mind concerns for Canadians,” stated McLeod “Our government is taking action by supporting projects at the local level to help prevent these forms of violence against women and girls.”

Applications from organizations will be accepted until 11:59 p.m., PST on Dec. 1. For more information on the call for proposals and eligibility requirements, please visit women.gc.ca.

In addition to this new call for proposals, the federal government recently announced in the Speech from the Throne its intention to introduce legislation that will give police and prosecutors new tools to address cyber-bullying. This legislation will also create a new criminal offence prohibiting the non-consensual distribution of intimate images.

Later this month, Ottawa will recognize 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, and will mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Nov. 25, as well as Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women on Dec. 6.